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Judge postpones retrial of reputed Philly mob boss

Associated Press

Updated:
03/15/2013 10:05:01 PM EDT

PHILADELPHIA - A federal judge has agreed to postpone the retrial of the reputed boss of the Philadelphia mob.

Last month, jurors acquitted 73-year-old Joseph Ligambi on counts of loan-sharking, theft, and bookmaking. But the jury deadlocked on the more serious racketeering charge against him and two reputed mob captains, George "Georgie" Borgesi and Anthony "Ant" Staino.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno agreed to move the retrial from April to mid-October after lawyers cited scheduling conflicts.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the retrial will include two new codefendants, Eric Esposito and Robert Ranieri, who had been awaiting separate trials.

Authorities say Ligambi has been the acting boss in Philadelphia since Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino went to prison in 1999.